Analog physical signature devices and methods and systems for using such devices to secure the use of computer resources
First Claim
1. A method for binding a computer program to an analog physical signature device to define an interactive system that controls the use of the computer program for its intended purpose, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing instructions comprising the computer program, the instructions implementing an intended functionality;
(b) providing the analog physical signature device to which the computer program is to be bound, the analog physical signature device being operative, in response to an analog input, to transform the analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output;
and(c) replacing a code segment of the computer program instructions representing a program expression with an alternative code segment, the alternative code segment defining a predetermined digital input that is causally related to a predetermined analog input by means of the interactive system;
(d) the alternative code segment being operative, when encountered during execution of the instructions comprising the computer program, to cause the predetermined analog input to be communicated to the analog physical object by means of signature device using the interactive system;
(e) the analog physical signature device being operative configured to transform the predetermined analog input to a consequent, dependent analog output that is causally related to a predefined digital output by means of using the interactive system;
and(f) the alternative code segment being operative configured to perform program functionality dependent upon the predetermined digital input and the predefined digital output.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for binding a computer program to an analog physical signature device to form an interactive system for controlling the use of the computer program, the method comprising the steps of providing instructions comprising the computer program, the instructions implementing an intended functionality, providing the analog physical signature device to which the computer program is to be bound, the analog physical signature device being operative, in response to an analog input, to transform the analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output, and replacing at least one code segment of the instructions representing a program expression, with an alternative code segment, the alternative code segment defining a predetermined digital input that is causally related to a predetermined analog input by means of the interactive system, the alternative code segment being operative, when encountered during execution of the instructions comprising the computer program, to cause the predetermined analog input to be communicated to the bound analog physical signature device by means of the interactive system, the bound analog physical signature device being operative to transform the predetermined analog input to a consequent, dependent analog output that is causally related to a consequent, dependent digital output by means of the interactive system, the alternative code segment being operative to perform program functionality dependent upon the predetermined digital input and the consequent, dependent digital output.
21 Citations
107 Claims
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1. A method for binding a computer program to an analog physical signature device to define an interactive system that controls the use of the computer program for its intended purpose, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing instructions comprising the computer program, the instructions implementing an intended functionality; (b) providing the analog physical signature device to which the computer program is to be bound, the analog physical signature device being operative, in response to an analog input, to transform the analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output;
and(c) replacing a code segment of the computer program instructions representing a program expression with an alternative code segment, the alternative code segment defining a predetermined digital input that is causally related to a predetermined analog input by means of the interactive system; (d) the alternative code segment being operative, when encountered during execution of the instructions comprising the computer program, to cause the predetermined analog input to be communicated to the analog physical object by means of signature device using the interactive system; (e) the analog physical signature device being operative configured to transform the predetermined analog input to a consequent, dependent analog output that is causally related to a predefined digital output by means of using the interactive system;
and(f) the alternative code segment being operative configured to perform program functionality dependent upon the predetermined digital input and the predefined digital output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 71)
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37. An interactive system for binding a computer program, the computer program including instructions for implementing an intended functionality, the interactive system comprising:
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an analog physical signature device that is operative to transform an analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output; an alternative code segment that replaces a code segment of the computer program instructions representing a program expression to bind the computer program to the analog physical signature device, the alternative code segment defining a predetermined digital input; a digital-to-analog conversion means in communication with the computer program and the analog physical signature device and operative to causally relate the predetermined digital input to a predetermined analog input that is communicated to the analog physical signature device wherein the predetermined analog input is transformed into a consequent, dependent analog output; and an analog-to-digital conversion means in communication with the computer program and the analog physical signature device and operative to causally relate the consequent, dependent analog output to a predefined digital output; the alternative code segment including instructions for communicating the predetermined digital input to the digital-to-analog conversion means, for retrieving the predefined digital output from the analog-to-digital conversion means, and for functionally processing the predefined digital output; wherein, when the alternative code segment is encountered during execution of the computer program instructions, the alternative code segment is operative to communicate the predetermined digital input to the digital-to-analog conversion means and to perform program functionality dependent upon the predetermined digital input and the predefined digital output retrieved from the analog-to-digital conversion means. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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72. A method for binding a computer program to an analog physical signature device comprising:
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executing a code segment, the code segment defining a predetermined digital input for transformation by an analog physical signature device; converting the digital input to an associated analog input; communicating the associated analog input to the analog physical signature device; the analog physical signature device transforming the associated analog input to a consequent, dependent analog output different from the input; converting the analog output to an associated digital output; and returning the associated digital output to the code segment, the code segment being operative to perform program functionality dependent upon the associated digital output. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. An interactive system for binding a computer program comprising:
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a first code segment defining a predetermined digital input; a digital-to-analog conversion circuit configured to convert the predetermined digital input to a corresponding analog input and to communicate the analog input; an analog physical signature device configured to transform the analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output different from the analog input; an analog-to-digital conversion circuit configured to convert the consequent, dependent analog output of the analog physical signature device to a predefined digital output; and a second code segment configured to perform program functionality dependent upon the predefined digital output. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. An interactive system for binding a computer program comprising:
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first code segment means for defining a predetermined digital input; digital-to-analog conversion means for converting the predetermined digital input to a corresponding analog input; analog physical signature means for transforming the corresponding analog input into a consequent, dependent analog output different from the corresponding analog input; analog-to-digital conversion means for converting the consequent, dependent analog output of the analog physical signature means to a predefined digital output; and second code segment means for performing program functionality dependent upon the predefined digital output. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. An analog physical signature transformation device for preventing unauthorized modification and duplication of software code on a computing device, the analog physical signature transformation device comprising:
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an input configured to interface with the computing device; an output configured to interface with the computing device; and an immutable, inhomogeneous material coupled between the input and the output and configured to transform an input radiant wave received at the input to a corresponding output radiant wave at the output different from the input radiant wave; wherein the input radiant wave is one selected from the group consisting of a light wave and a sonic wave; and wherein the immutable, inhomogeneous material comprises at least one of; a membrane stretched over a rigid structure; a closed partially hollow container filled with a viscous fluid; a closed hollow container filled with ringing metal objects; a glass mirror having impurities embedded therein; a glass mirror having surface irregularities; and a glass mirror having an inhomogeneous metallic backing. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. An analog physical signature transformation device for preventing unauthorized modification and duplication of software code on a computing device, the analog physical signature transformation device comprising:
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input means for interfacing with the computing device; output means for interfacing with the computing device; and transformation means for transforming an input radiant wave received at the input means to a corresponding output radiant wave at the output means different from the input radiant wave, wherein the transformation means include an immutable, inhomogeneous material coupled between the input means and the output means; wherein the input radiant wave is one selected from the group consisting of a light wave and a sonic wave; and wherein the immutable, inhomogeneous material comprises at least one of; a membrane stretched over a rigid structure; a closed partially hollow container filled with a viscous fluid; a closed hollow container filled with ringing metal objects; a glass mirror having impurities embedded therein; a glass mirror having surface irregularities; and a glass mirror having an inhomogeneous metallic backing. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102)
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103. A method for preventing unauthorized modification and duplication of software code on a computing device comprising:
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receiving a digital input from a computing device; converting the digital input to an analog input signal selected from the group consisting of a light wave and a sonic wave; transmitting the analog input signal across an immutable, inhomogeneous material configured to transform the analog input signal to a corresponding analog output signal different from the analog input signal; converting the analog output signal to a digital output signal; and transmitting the digital output signal to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106, 107)
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Specification